Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Dear ACGME,

As a 4th year medical student I highly value the work that you do in ensuring my training in residency will be sufficient.   However, I am horrified to learn that you are proposing the removal of family planning training guidelines for family practice residents.  Many US women go to a FP as their primary healthcare provider for comprehensive health care – from the treatment of acute sickness to the delivery of their babies and everything in between.  The vast majority of women in the United States use contraception.  Now, if a FP isn’t trained to provide their female patients with counseling on contraception, pregnancy options, and the such, where are these women expected to turn?  It is an equation that makes no sense at all and will lead to subpar care for many US women, especially poor women and those in underserved communities. 

Please do not change the requirements for family planning physicians.  Women count on their providers, and we as providers need to be trained in how to provide comprehensive reproductive health care.  If we’re not trained, then who will be?  It is your responsibility as an accrediting organization to look out for our best interests as future physicians and the best interests of our future patients. 

Thank you,
PAIT
 
I wrote my letter - now where is yours?
 
ACGME is debating cutting family planning training for family medicine residents.  They are accepting feedback through tomorrow.  Please speak up, and ask everyone you know passionate about this issue to do the same. 
Comments are being accepted at familymedicine@acgme.org.  Also, the Reproductive Health Access Project has an online campaign going hereMore information can be found here.
And tangentially related, what is going on in Kansas is disturbing.

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